Officials: Leander fire fully contained

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) - Just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, fire officials said the destructive blaze that lasted for hours in Leander is fully under control.

Leander Fire Chief Bill Gardner said they had contained the blaze by 100 percent at 3 a.m. Tuesday, nearly 11 hours after it began.

Gardner said they will do a walk-through with those who lost homes starting at noon. A preliminary investigation suggests the blaze started outside a home, though there is no cause yet.

Gardner said no one is being questioned yet and that they are just canvassing the area.

Firefighters from numerous agencies responded to a brush fire that erupted around 4 p.m. Monday, completely destroying 15 homes and damaging seven others. The blaze also damaged 16 cars.

Four firefighters suffered injuries, and they were treated and released. The nature of the injuries was not made known.

Two citizens were also hurt, though full details were not made public. One was taken to a hospital and later released. The other was treated and released.

Crews watched for flare-ups early Tuesday morning after the battle carried into the overnight hours. Gardner said wind and heat complicated the situation during the fire fight.

In less than an hour, officials on Monday afternoon had evacuated 189 homes on Horseshoe Drive, Lion Drive and Tablerock Circle.

Most of the residents have returned to their homes Tuesday morning, though a few on Powell Street and Horseshoe Drive were still waiting until just before noon when they were let back in. Much of the damage happened in the Powell Street and Horseshoe Drive area.

Officials put the 20- to 30 residents who could not go back home in area hotels.

A Federal Management Assistance Grant is also being awarded to help defray the cost of the fire.

Leander fire officials said the blaze burned homes on Horseshoe Drive near County Road 274, just west of State Highway 183.

Leander Middle School served as a shelter for evacuees at 410 South West Drive. At the the peak of the fire, there were around 100 residents at the shelter, though by Tuesday morning that shelter was empty.

Four firefighters and a resident were treated for smoke inhalation. Another resident was treated for heat exhaustion.

The Leander Fire Department had the help of 10 other agencies, including STARFlight -- which did air drops onto the flames.